10 ways to evade Alzheimer’s

Marni Jameson, The Orlando Sentinel02.02.2012

A growing body of research indicates that our lifestyles — particularly what we eat and whether we’re obese — play a greater role than our genes in determining our brain health as we age.'
/ PNG file photo

1. Eat a diet high in protein and rich in colourful fruits and vegetables.'
/ PNG file photo

2. Ira Goodman, a neurologist at Orlando Health, cites a study out of the University of Cincinnati that found that carbohydrate restriction helped participants who had mild cognitive impairment regain mental function. Researchers divided the 23 participants into two groups. One group went on a typical diet consisting of 50 per cent of calories from carbohydrates for six weeks. The other group went on a low-carbohydrate diet, where fewer than 10 per cent of calories came from carbohydrates. Afterward, cognitive function stayed about the same in the first group, while in the low-carb group, function improved, according to the 2010 study, published in the Neurobiology of Aging.'
/ PNG file photo

3. Have a glass of wine.'
/ PNG file photo

3. Those who partake in a little wine each day enjoy some protective benefits, said Gary Wenk, professor of neuroscience at Ohio State University, and author of Your Brain on Food. The website www.alzheimers.org.uk adds that while people who drink excessive amounts of alcohol over a long period of time increase their risk of developing a form of dementia, some research suggests that moderate amounts of red wine, which contains antioxidants, might help to protect the brain against dementia.'
/ PNG file photo

4. Keep your weight down.'
/ PNG file photo

4. Obesity is linked to Alzheimer’s because it’s a risk factor for diabetes, and diabetics have a two to three times greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s, said neurologist Ira Goodman. “We believe that’s because their impaired ability to use or make insulin contributes to neurodegeneration” — in other words, brain breakdown.'
/ PNG file photo

5. Control your stress levels.'
/ PNG file photo

5. In a recent study at Yale, scientists found that stressful events appeared to cause grey matter — the brain tissue that contains dendrites, which transfer information between brain cells — to shrink. The cumulative effects of stress lead to cognitive impairment and probably to memory loss, said researcher Rajita Sinha, professor of psychiatry at Yale Medical School and director of the Yale Interdisciplinary Stress Center. But it is not a permanent loss; if the stress is dealt with in a healthy manner, dendrites grow back.'
/ PNG file photo

6. Stay healthy in all aspects of your life.'
/ PNG file photo

6. Scientists believe that while there’s a genetic component, Alzheimer’s is primarily a lifestyle disease. A healthy life includes all the behaviours that help keep Alzheimer’s at bay: keeping blood-sugar levels steady, exercising, building good personal relationships and engaging in positive activities.'
/ PNG file photo

7. ‘What’s good for your heart is good for your brain,’ said Ira Goodman, a neurologist who conducts Alzheimer’s studies at Compass Research in Orlando, Fla. Patients who’ve taken statins for years to control their cholesterol seem to have some protection, as do those who keep their blood pressure down, with or without medication, adds neuroscientist Gary Wenk.'
/ PNG file photo

8. Keep inflammations under control.'
/ PNG file photo

8. Large epidemiological studies have suggested that anti-inflammatory medications help. “Those who developed arthritis early and began taking non-steroidal anti-inflammatories were at lower risk of developing Alzheimer’s,” neuroscientist Gary Wenk said.'
/ PNG file photo

9. Exercise your body and your brain.'
/ PNG file photo

9. ‘The more you learn, the more synapses you make,’ says neurologist Ira Goodman. ‘Brain degeneration involves the breaking down of synapses, so the more you have the longer the brain takes to break down. This is why we think people who are highly educated have a lower incidence of Alzheimer’s.’'
/ PNG file photo

10. Butt out.'
/ PNG file photo

10. Smoking has an extremely harmful effect on the heart, lungs and vascular system, including the blood vessels in the brain. This increases the risk of developing vascular dementia. Despite early studies which suggested that smoking might cause a reduced risk for Alzheimer's disease, more recent epidemiological research has shown that smoking is a significant risk factor for Alzheimer's disease, with smokers almost twice as likely to develop the disease as non-smokers. (Source: www.alzheimers.org.uk)'
/ PNG file photo

Related

Anyone who has a close relative with Alzheimer’s shares the same worry: Am I next?

However, a growing body of research indicates that our lifestyles — particularly what we eat and whether we’re obese — play a greater role than our genes in determining our brain health as we age.

“For years, scientists thought that Alzheimer’s was primarily genetic,” said Gary Wenk, professor of neuroscience at Ohio State University. “We now believe that, while there’s a genetic component, Alzheimer’s is primarily a lifestyle disease.”

People do carry genes, including APOE-4, that predispose them toward the disease, but whether they activate those genes depends heavily on their lifestyles, said Dr. Stuart Lipton, professor at Sanford-Burnham Research Institute, where he’s scientific director of neuroscience, aging and stem-cell research.

“A myth exists that if the Alzheimer’s gene is in your family, you’re going to get it. But that only affects one per cent of cases,” Lipton said. “What matters most is how you superimpose your lifestyle on top of your genetic background.”

A degenerative brain disorder that causes progressive loss of memory and intellectual and social skills, Alzheimer’s is the most common form of dementia. Though no cure exists, medications can slow progress.

But although we may have more control over whether we develop Alzheimer’s than previously thought, the primary risk factors are all on the rise.

“Looking at the rising rate of obesity, diabetes and metabolic syndrome, we’re in a bad state of affairs,” Lipton said.

And of course, a primary risk factor for Alzheimer’s is age. Today, the chances of having Alzheimer’s by the time a person reaches age 85 is 50 per cent, Goodman says. That risk rises to 75 per cent by age 100.

Comments

We encourage all readers to share their views on our articles and blog posts. We are committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion, so we ask you to avoid personal attacks, and please keep your comments relevant and respectful. If you encounter a comment that is abusive, click the "X" in the upper right corner of the comment box to report spam or abuse. We are using Facebook commenting. Visit our FAQ page for more information.

Almost Done!

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.

Postmedia wants to improve your reading experience as well as share the best deals and promotions from our advertisers with you. The information below will be used to optimize the content and make ads across the network more relevant to you. You can always change the information you share with us by editing your profile.

By clicking "Create Account", I hearby grant permission to Postmedia to use my account information to create my account.

I also accept and agree to be bound by Postmedia's Terms and Conditions with respect to my use of the Site and I have read and understand Postmedia's Privacy Statement. I consent to the collection, use, maintenance, and disclosure of my information in accordance with the Postmedia's Privacy Policy.